Rail splice oiling machine



RAIL SPLICE OILING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -I@ Jack 6, Carroll INVENTOR.

BY M Mq,

April 26, 1955 J. c. CARROLL RAIL SPLICE omuc MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 3, 1952 Jack 0, Carroll IN V EN TOR.

April 26, 1955 J. c. CARROLL RAIL SPLICE OILING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 3, 1952 64 Fig.3.

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Jack 0. Carroll IN VEN TOR.

A ttornqs April 26, 1955 J. c. CARROLL 2,706,951

RAIL SPLICE OILING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.4.

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Jack 0. Carroll v INVENTOR.

by may 3% United States Patent 2,706,951 RAIL SPLICE OILING MACHINE Jack C. Carroll, Pineville, Ky. Application April 3, 1952, Serial No. 280,353 8 Claims. (Cl. 104279) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railroad apparatus and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for oiling rail splices in order to reduce track noises and wear.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a rail splice oiling machine including spray nozzles for straddling a rail and valve means having an operator that will engage a rail splice to open the valve means as the nozzles approach and face a rail splicer.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rail splice oiling truck having means for attaching the same to a towing vehicle and means whereby the truck may be selectively raised to an inoperative position and lowered to an operative position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail splice oiling machine involving slidable nozzle holders which are adjustable toward or away from each other, in order to vary the area of the rail splice covered thereby.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of adjustable connections between A further object of the present invention is to provide an oiler for rail splices that is quickly and readily assembled or disassembled in a convenient manner for adjustment, repair or cleaning.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a device for oiling rail splices and the like that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, relatively compact in structure, efiicient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, service and operate, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present invention in use and attached to its towing car; s

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure 1 and taken from the opposite side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2 but rotated 180 degrees;

Figure 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of Figure l and showing the truck removed from its towing car;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of Figure 2 to show one of the nozzles and the oil and air supply means associated therewith;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure 9;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the rail splice engaging arms used in the invention;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the rail splice engaging arms are moved to open the valve means for the nozzles as they engage a splice; and,

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 and showing 2,706,951 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 the arms moved to their normal position after passing the rail splice.

Referring now to the drawings indetail, wherein for a pair of aligned slots 20 whose longitudinal edges enter grooves 22 in the side edges of slide plates 24. The vertical arms 26 of T- fittings 28 extend downwardly through threaded openings in the slide plates 24 and are coupled to spray nozzles or elbows 30 by couplings 32 as shown best in Figure 6 of the drawings. The upstanding arms 34 of the T-fittings 28 are coupled to the branch lines 36 of a flexible air conduit 38 and the horizontal arms 40 of the T-fittings 28 are coupled to the branch lines 42 of an oil supply conduit 44.

A valve 46 is interposed in the conduit 38 and a valve 48 is also interposed in each of the branch lines 42. The valves 46 and nozzles the air under pressure entering the T-fitting will blast the oil outwardly through the nozzles.

As the nozzles may be adjusted toward or away from each other, by moving the slide plates, the area of a depnding lateral pro ecting arms 54 whose lower ends pivotally connected to adjustable connectors 56. Rigid bars 57 removably secured to leg portions 16 are bifurcated to receive horizontally swingable contact arms 58 that are pivoted to portions 16 by vertical pivots 60. Vertical pins 62 extend upwardly from the outer ends of the arms and are pivotally engaged with the are also connected to the frame 12 by coil springs 64 that yieldingly retain the arms 58 coaxial with each other as shown in Figure 3.

Plate 18 is in two sections and the adjacent ends of and extend upwardly therefrom to rotatably support a rod 72 having sleeves 74 slidably received thereon. The sleeves 74 are provided with slots 76 that receive the eye ends 78 of links 80.

The rod 72 extends through the eye ends 78 of the links 80 and the eye ends 78 are formed with radially inwardly projecting lugs 82 that the rod the rod 72.

Angle brackets 86 are secured to the T-fittings 28 as shown in Figure 5 and support upstanding bifurcated post elements 88 to which are pivoted the aplces of bell cranks 90. The upper legs of the bell pivotally connected to adjustable pitmans 92 which in turn are pivoted to the links 80. The valve stems 94 of valves in the valve units 48 are connected by links 96 to the horizontal legs of the bell cranks. Springs 98 connect the horizontal legs of the bell cranks to the conduits 42 and retain the valves 48 in their closed position.

Blocks or sleeves 74 are connected to arms 100 attached to the plates 24, and the plates 24 are connected to the valve units 48 by brace arms 102 in order that the valve units 48 and the sleeves 74 may move with the slide plates 24.

A rigid arm element 104 extends upwardly from the rod 72 and is pivoted to the rear bifurcated end of an adjustable connector 106 having a forward bifurcated ries a pitman 110 that is pivoted to the valve operating arm 112 of the valve unit 46.

A handle 114 is pivoted to one leg portion 14 of the frame 12 and a bracket 116 carried thereby. The lower end of the handle 114 is connected to one of the arms 54 by an adjustable connector 118 so that shaft 52 may be rotated by the handle 114.

The plate sections 18 are braced by U-bolts 120 that bridge the slots 20. The plate sections 18 support a U-shaped attaching member fixed thereto that is connected to a pitrnan 1 upper end of pitman 126 is pivoted to a lever 128 pivotally supported on a ratchet segment 130 fixed to a towing car 132. A handle 134 is fixed to the lever 128 and carries a spring urged pawl 136 for selectively engaging between adjacent teeth of the segment A rigid T-element 138 is fixed to the web of frame member 12 and this element is connected by a rigi link 140 to an elongated ear 142 fixedly attached to the car 132.

In practical use of the present invention, the truck may be raised and lowered by manipulation of the handle 134. When the truck 10 is lowered, the handle 114 is pushed forwardly to swing the arms 58 away from each other to permit the same to clear the ball of the rail R. a

After the truck has been lowered, the handle 114 is released and the arms 58 will swing under the ball of the rail to engage a splice S as the truck 10 is pulled forwardly by the car 132.

As the arms 58 ride against the splice S, as shown in Figure 11, shaft 52 will rock and move connector 106 longitudinally rearward. Rearward movement of connector 106 imparts rotation to rod 72 which in and the valves in unit 48 to their open position to admit oil under pressure into the T-fittings 2S. Rearward rocking movement of arm elements 104 also moves lever 112 to its valve open position to admit air to the T-fittings 28.

The conduit 44 is operatively connected to a reservoir or tank T of oil supported on the car 132 and the conduit 38 is connected to an air pressure tank Ta also supported on the car 132. A suitable air compressor is coupled to tank Ta to retain the air in tank Ta under pressure, whereby the oil entering the nozzles will be directed by the air blast outwardly from the nozzles against the splice S.

After the arms 58 clear or move past the splice S as shown in Figure 12, the springs 64 return the arms 58 to their normal position.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, new is:

l. A rail splice what is claimed as oiling machine comprising a wheeled longitudinal saddle portion and supporting wheels within said saddle portion for riding upon a rail, means carried by the carriage for attaching the same to a towing car, spray nozzles supported on the carriage, a supply of oil connected to the spray nozzles, a valve controlling the supply of oil to the nozzles, and mechanical operating means connected to the valve and including trip arms extending under the wheels of the carriage to engage a rail splice during movement of the carriage, whereby the valve will be opened.

2. A rail splice oiler comprising a truck having a central longitudinal, downwardly facing channel and supporting wheels mounted in said channel adapted to run upon a track, track oiling nozzles on the truck for straddling a rail, a supply of oil connected to the nozzles, means operatively connected to the nozzles and the supply for directing oil from the supply through the nozzles, valve means controlling the supply of oil to the nozzles, and mechanical valve actuating means including trip arms swingably mounted on the truck under the wheels for moving the valve means to its open position upon engagement of the trip arms with a splice.

3. A rail splice oiler comprising a truck having a longitudinally extending downwardly facing channel and supporting wheels mounted within said channel and adapted to run upon a track, track oiling nozzles on the truck for straddling a rail, a supply of oil connected to the nozzles, means operatively connected to the nozzles, and the supply for directing oil from the supply through the nozzles, a supply of air under pressure connected to the nozzles for ejecting oil from the nozzles, valve means controlling the supply of air to the nozzles, additional valve means controlling the supply of oil to the nozzles, and valve operating means carried by the truck under the wheels and connected to both valve means for simultaneously opening both valve means as the valve operating means engages a rail splice.

4. A rail splice oiling machine comprising a truck having wheels for riding on a rail, a pair of facing spray nozzles, means slidably securing the spray nozzles to the truck for adjustment of the nozzles selectively toward or away from each other to vary the area of a splice sprayed by said nozzles, means operatively connected to the nozzles for directing oil outwardly from the nozzles, valve means for said oil directing means, and operating means for the valve means disposed under the wheels to engage a rail splice and open the valve means, said means slidably securing the spray nozzles to the truck comprising a pair of slide plates having channel shaped grooves in their side edges, said truck having a pair of slots therein, the edges of the slots being received in the grooves.

5. A rail splice oiling machine comprising a truck having wheels for riding on a rail, spray nozzles supported on the truck and under the wheels for oiling a splice, an oil supply conduit having branches connected to the nozzles for supplying oil to the nozzles, air hoses connected to the nozzles for forcing oil entering the nozzles outwardly from the nozzles, a valve for each branch of the oil supply conduit, a valve for the air hoses, and an operator for all of the valves including a pair of swinging arms disposed under the wheels to be engaged with a rail splice, said operator being operatively connected to the valves for the branches and the hoses.

6. An oiler for rail splices, said oiler comprising a truck frame having wheels thereon for riding on a rail, a pair of spray nozzles slidably attached to the frame for straddling a rail, said nozzles being selectively movable toward and away from each other to vary the area of a splice sprayed by said nozzles, an oil supply conduit having branch e nozzles, an air supply conduit zles, valve means for each conduit, ing means operatively connected to both valve means for simultaneously opening both valve means, whereby a supply of oil will be forced outwardly through each nozzle, said valve actuating means including a pair of horizontally swingable contact arms extending under the wheels to engage a rail splice.

7. An oiler for rail splices, said oiler comprising a truck frame having wheels thereon for riding on a rail, a pair of spray nozzles slidably attached to the frame for straddling a rail, said nozzles being selectively movable toward and away from each other, an oil supply branches connected to the nozzles, an air supply conduit having branches connected to the nozzles, valve means for each conduit, a pair of horizontally swingable arms pivoted to the frame and extending under the wheels, a horizontal rock shaft rotatably supported on the frame and adjustably connected to the arms to be rotated during swinging of the arms, and means connecting the rock shaft to both valve means.

8. An oiler for rail splices, said oiler comprising a truck frame having wheels thereon for riding on a rail, a pair of spray nozzles slidably attached to the frame for straddling a rail, said nozzles being selectively movable toward and away from each other, an oil supply conduit having branches connected to the nozzles, an air supply conduit having branches connected to the nozzles, valve means for each conduit, a pair of horizontally swingable arms pivoted to the frame and extending under the wheels, a horizontal rock shaft rotatably supported on the frame, and means adjustably connecting said rock shaft to said arms, and means adjustably connecting said rock shaft to both valve means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,856 King Apr. 8, 1891 

